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Quest kicks off with programs for transfer students and new freshmen

Dozens of students dressed in red tops and khakis were recently spotted near the campus fountain – a colorful sign that Radford University's new student orientation program is on the horizon.

Quest sessions begin this month and continue through mid-July. Quest Assistants, uniformed in the red and khaki outfits, returned to campus May 27 to prepare for the thousands of students and families expected to participate. Three different orientation programs are available to students: two-day Quest, Quest Express – a single-day experience - and Transfer Quest.

The first set of Quest sessions, scheduled for June 15-16, is offered to transfers who typically account for about 25 percent of incoming students, said Mike Dunn, director of New Student Programs. Currently, about 500 transfer students have registered to attend Quest this summer in addition to more than 1,800 new freshmen.

Quest Assistant Sidney Green checks her group list during 2014 Quest.

"Our transfer students are a vibrant part of our Radford University community," Dunn said.

The vast majority of Radford University's transfer students come from community colleges where they may have earned associate degrees or completed general education courses. Many are close to graduating when they arrive, Dunn said.

Therefore, Transfer Quest sessions are small, about 125-150 max, so students can receive the personal and specific advising council they need to complete their degrees.

"These sessions are a little more tailored to transfers' needs, but we still need to expose them to all the resources we have," he said.

All three Quest programs incorporate tours of campus, academic advising, course registration and information sessions for parents/family members. Students leave Quest with their Radford University ID cards in hand.